A freighter carrying 1,800 tonnes of fin whale meat arrived in Tromso, Norway late last week, non-governmental environmental organization Greenpeace said.
Fin whales are an endangered species, listed on CITES Appendix one which forbids all international commercial trade.
The ship, known as Winter Bay, is expected to transport the meat originating from Iceland to Japan through the Northern Sea Route as European ports stopped handling whale meat following a petition in 2013.
Media reports said initially that the ship was going to Japan via Luanda in Angola, however; reports have emerged that Winter Bay would now opt for the Northern Passage.
“No shipment from Iceland has gone this way before. This unusual route is because of the unusual cargo,” Greenpeace said.
According to Greenpeace, Winter Bay will stay in Norway, the only nation aside to Iceland and Japan that openly defy the International Whaling Commission’s ban on hunting whales, until July 1st.
The Winter Bay has the lowest possible ice classification and will only be allowed to transit the Northern Passage if conditions are ideal. But, other ships ply Tromso harbour and transferring the cargo is a possibility, Greenpeace added.
Japan’s whale meat market has seen a downturn over the recent period as younger generations have not been that keen on consuming the meat.
The owner of Iceland’s fin whaling industry Mr Loftsson, cited by the NGO, said that although he is not making much profit now, he hopes to build the market. He claims that there is a decreasing supply of whale meat in Japan and therefore a demand for his product.